Spanish third tier 'is on the brink of COLLAPSE'

The Spanish third tier ‘is on the brink of COLLAPSE, just 18 months after being set up’… as country’s football federation ‘warns clubs that funding could be removed if they do not agree to centralised economic control’

• The Primera Federación has run into a range of issues since its creation in 2021 
• A number of commercial deals have failed to materialise for Spain’s third tier 
• Clubs also have just two days to vote on economic controls being imposed

The Spanish third division – also known as the Primera Federación – is on the brink of collapse just 18 months after being set up, according to reports. 

The league was initially launched in 2021 in a bid to create a financially viable and professional third tier of men’s football in Spain, but has run into a range of issues since it’s creation.

According to The Guardian, a number of commercial deals have failed to materialise for the Primera Federación, while the breakdown of a TV and sponsorship agreement with Footters has left a shortfall exceeding £8million (€9m).

In response to this, the country’s football federation, RFEF, have proposed economic controls and management of the two-group Primera Federación – which features 40 different teams.

However, 18 of those clubs are abstaining from the vote and have stated that they could not accept plans to centralise control in the hands of the RFEF without further information.

There are reports that the Spanish third division could be on the brink of collapse this week

President of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, has led the RFEF’s rulings

Spanish football’s governing body has warned clubs that they have 48 hours to vote on the matter while accusing a ‘small minority’ of imposing a ‘blockade’.

The RFEF have also suggested potentially closing the league model and returning to the Segunda B system – which was an amateur third tier featuring over 80 teams.

Some clubs reportedly view this as an act to intimidate teams into agreeing to the federation’s demand.

However, the RFEF referenced the ‘immediate and direct consequences’ of resistance to measures on economic control and questioned the ‘sense’ of maintaining a competition which ‘the clubs themselves say is not viable’.

The majority of teams within the league currently operate at a loss and it’s even forced two clubs – Extremadura and Dux Internacional de Madrid – to drop out altogether.

At the start of the season, Dux had their registration withdrawn after failing to field a team for their opening game. Spain’s court of arbitration for sport, TAD, have reinstated them for next season, however the RFEF have appealed the case.

It was just the first infringement of many that have occurred in the league. The majority of clubs play on plastic pitches despite obligations stating that clubs must have a capacity of 4,000 and play on grass pitches. 

On top of this, each club has to have a minimum of 18 professional players on their register and must each earn a minimum salary of £17,000 (€20,000). 

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid’s youth teams are currently enrolled in the struggling league

There had been suggestions that, under the RFEF’s control, television rights deals could end up earning €40m – however that has not come to fruition. 

Some clubs are open to the idea of economic controls but remain concerned over the lack of clarity in the matter and would prefer to reach a consensus rather than have it imposed by the federation.

However, the majority of clubs want to maintain the freedom to pursue revenue streams after watching the league’s financial struggle since forming.

With the vote set to take place over the next 48 hours, and 18 clubs still in opposition to the RFEF’s terms, there are serious concerns that the league will be abandoned.

The Primera Federación is currently formed of 40 teams that are split into two separate leagues. There are six youth teams in the league including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Celta Vigo.

Source: Read Full Article